Priseis
A feminine name derived from the Ancient Greek goddess Prisis, meaning "prayer" or "supplication."
Name Census estimates that about 160 living Americans carry the first name Priseis. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Priseis today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Priseis births was 2008 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Priseis. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
160
~ 1 in 2,142,215 Americans
Peak year
2008
18 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2022 SSA rank
#13,254
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Priseis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Priseis from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 76 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Priseis by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Priseis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Priseis' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Priseis
The name Priseis originates from Ancient Greek and is derived from the word "prisis," which means "captive" or "prisoner." This name has its roots in Greek mythology and literature, particularly in Homer's epic poem, the Iliad.
In the Iliad, Priseis was the name given to Briseis, a beautiful woman who was captured by the Achaeans during the Trojan War. She was awarded as a prize to Achilles but was later taken away from him by Agamemnon, leading to a conflict between the two heroes.
The earliest recorded use of the name Priseis can be traced back to ancient Greek texts, where it was used to refer to the character Briseis. However, it is important to note that the spelling and pronunciation of the name may have varied over time and across different regions of the ancient Greek world.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Priseis or variations thereof. One such person was Priseis of Samos (c. 640 BC - c. 570 BC), a renowned lyric poet from the island of Samos in the Aegean Sea. Her works, although now lost, were highly regarded in her time and influenced later poets.
Another notable figure was Priseis of Corinth (c. 500 BC), a Greek painter and sculptor who lived during the Classical period. She was known for her realistic and lifelike depictions of humans and animals, and her works were admired for their attention to detail and naturalistic style.
In the 3rd century AD, there was Priseis of Alexandria, a renowned scholar and philosopher who taught at the famous Library of Alexandria. She was known for her expertise in mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy, and her writings on these subjects were widely studied and influential during her time.
During the Byzantine era, Priseis of Constantinople (c. 1050 AD - c. 1120 AD) was a prominent historian and writer. She is best known for her chronicles documenting the reigns of various Byzantine emperors, providing valuable insights into the political and cultural landscape of the time.
In more recent history, Priseis Aristidou (1887 - 1970) was a Greek novelist and playwright who made significant contributions to modern Greek literature. Her works often explored themes of love, family, and societal norms, and she was celebrated for her vivid storytelling and character development.
While the name Priseis is not as common today as it once was, its rich historical and cultural significance in the ancient Greek world and beyond cannot be understated. This name serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Greek mythology and literature on the naming traditions of various cultures throughout history.
People
Priseis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Priseis as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Priseis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Priseis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 160 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Priseis going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,142,215 US residents.
Is Priseis a common name?
We classify Priseis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 162 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Priseis most popular?
The single biggest year for Priseis was 2008, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Priseis is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Priseis a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Priseis in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.